Indonesia Conference Directory

Social movements often emerge as a response to repressive actions taken by the government towards the community. The main entities that become movers in social movements are civil communities, be they NGOs, social activist groups, or communities with various other backgrounds. Moreover, in the context of geothermal energy development that is still not fully understood by the community, social movements develop with rapid dynamics. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to look at the dynamics that occur within civil society groups in West Sumatra in developing a discourse about the rejection of the construction of geothermal power plants in the Talang Mountain area. The dynamics in the form of communication, interaction, exchange, and involvement. This research is in the form of case studies that focus on civilian communities that oppose geothermal development in the vicinity of the Talang Mountain Area. This area is considered as one of the biggest geothermal producers in Sumatra and even in Indonesia, but on the other hand, it is also a region rich in biodiversity and economic resources and clean water for local communities. Data collected through field observations, interviews, and documentation. The results showed that the development of shared discourse between communities is an important factor that can unite the perceptions, ideas, and movements of the community. The development of the discourse did not occur structurally. However, because of liquid exchanges of communication, there are joint actions, and literacy activities as a form of exchange of ideas between them. Although not completely able to stop the development process, the social movement increased the publics critical power.